University of Pretoria

Red Bull Theater’s Sardanapalus & Global Watch Party Review

By Cuan Olivier

A dramatic reading of Lord Byron’s Sardanapalus was broadcast on the 28th of October at the University of Pretoria. The English Department’s viewing party – in association with the Keats-Shelley Association of America, the Byron Society of America, and the Keats-Shelley House in Rome – was one of the final extracurricular activities of the year before the exams. Of note to this reviewer is the excellent performance by lead Amir Arison – our titular king Sardanapalus – in characterising the king as noble-minded and idealistic in his vision for a peaceful empire, but pettish and inclined to opulence, and moreover unwilling to enforce – or perhaps undermine – his vision for peace using military force. Of additional note is Sanjit de Silva’s intelligent performance as the endlessly frustrated but always dependable Salamenes, which is as equally spirited and compelling as Arison’s. Lastly, the consistent punctuation of an otherwise mostly dispiriting and disquieting play with well-timed doses of wit and joking intonations helped to make even more enjoyable and organic the sequence of events that ultimately end with the king’s endearing sacrifice – along with his faithful hangers-on – at play’s end. 

The performance left the Pretorian viewing party somewhat sympathetic towards Sardanapalus for his ideals, but frustrated at his habitual failures to take further, more practical measures in the preservation of his already well-established kingdom. If one were to keep in mind the notion that this play can be read as a “coming out of the closet”, then it conceivable to think of Sardanapalus as needing to step out from the cradle of his own vacillations towards kingship. At the time of his reconciliation with his wife and queen Zarina, Sardanapalus has become prepared to deal with the uglier aspects of his reality: to account to the abandoned mother of his children, and to meet the opposing use of force with force in turn. By extension, Sardanapalus becomes prepared – albeit in haunted fashion – to deal with the reality of kingship as well – but this comes too late.  Sardanapalus’ ideal is to maintain a peaceful kingdom, but he seems – up until his first sally against the rebels – habitually unprepared to deal with the practicalities thereof: to treat with subjects as a king rather than playboy prince; to punish rather than simply reprimand those who would unsettle his rule; or to at least delegate the burden of rule to one better suited for it than he – Salamenes. Again, Sardanapalus’s vision for peace is noble enough; when pressed, Sardanapalus is always able to compellingly argue his vision to his detractors. One problem with this, however, is that Sardanapalus otherwise drives at his vision through decadent feasts and a laissez-faire attitude to the management of his kingdom: hallmarks, to supports and detractors, of an effeminate and unfit king. I would argue that it is in part the principles underlying Sardanapalus’ supposedly effeminate behaviour – his will to non-violence, and his emphasis on the liberty and pleasure of the people – that endears him to his love interests. When his idealism is finally tempered with the willingness to defend himself and those loyal to him through martial force (which comes too late to make a real difference), Sardanapalus finally proves himself to his remaining supporters – and, perhaps, to the audience. All the more compelling, then, is the fact that Sardanapalus upholds his principles as best he can until his last breath, even after he has acknowledged with utter perspicacity that he was not fit to be king. 

The University of Pretoria’s Department of English is grateful to the Red Bull Theatre, Keats-Shelley Association of America, Byron Society of America, and Keats-Shelley House in Rome for the opportunity to put on this viewing party. Attendees enjoyed the event immensely, and have expressed immense excitement at the possibility of participating in future events such as these. We hope for future opportunities to collaborate, and thank all involved for their wonderful efforts.